I fell off today

[noodle]

:eek:Oh dear, I think its back to basics with me.
Rode Max today and he is such a wonderful horse but very sensitive and foward going but in a safe way, I rode him today and silly me lost a stirup{always my left foot} and then gripped him with my legs, ooooopss, he then cantered and I came off round a corner, long way to fall I know and bless him, he came straight over and looked down on me, maybe to check if I was ok, BLESS HIM!:)
BUt I was fine, just a little sore in the back, got back on, didnt have the shakes, but I think I was running through too much in my head and decided after about another 15mins to jump off, not because I was scared but because I didnt want to end on a bad note.

So I have got to sort myself out, I have been having lessons nearly a year but RS horses are so different and all that time I have been having lessons I have used my legs to grip and balance and not pushing enough weight into my stirups.
I know what I am doing wrong and can feel what I am doing wrong, but body isnt listening to brain!
I keep loosing my stirups because my legs go back, because i try and grip with them. any ideas, superglue? velcro?

[Joyscarer]

I keep loosing my stirups because my legs go back, because i try and grip with them. any ideas, superglue? velcro?

That used to be me and the way I finally got it into my head was by thinking about how to keep the right part of my lower leg in contact with my horse and forgetting about what my feet were doing!

All my efforts went into thinking about how I applied my legs. I used to apply aids with my heals and make a big effort to think about every single aid I gave and concentrate on applying it with my calves rather than my heels.

BINGO - things have improved for me as it just feels plain wrong to lift my heel to apply it to the horses side as I then lose contact with my calves.

It worked for me but I know what you are going through :)

[kusha]

Hi

Poor you - at least you got back on - well done!!. It will probably take another 2 or 3 lessons before you can put it out your mind.

Have you tried have a lesson on the lunge - it is a great way to help with your balance and seat. You wil really notice the difference especially if you are having problems with gripping up.

Good luck!!;)

[orbvalley]

Agree with the other replies. I had this problem too, mine was caused by tensing up and gripping with my knee's. Work without stirrups and lunge lessons helped cure it and relaxing of course but that's not so easy to do:rolleyes:

[cwb]

Oh Noodle! silly girl :rolleyes:

I have found that it is best to start with the stirrup closer to the front of my foot - then it feels more "elastic".

I have also been told that there should not be a lot of weight in the stirrup - someone should be able to put their hand under your foot and not have their fingers crushed!

I would do a lot of trotting without stirrups - especially rising trot - this helped me tremendously to deepen my seat and relax my legs so they don't grip but just hang gently against the sides of the horse.

NEVER grip up - the horse WILL canter! Especially one that is not an RS horse - it is precisely how I get Ziggy & Hovis to canter exactly where I want - sit and grip up with the outside leg back a bit.

Have you seen a video of you riding? I have found this invaluable to understand what I was doing, rather than what I "thought" I was doing! I'd be happy to come down to the RS with my camera if it would help.

[Cobgirl]

Glad you are ok - you will be sore tomrrow and probably have a bruise develop. We've all done it and I have fallen at canter on a bend. It is scary but well done to you for getting back on, I did exactly the same!

As others have said, riding without stirrups does help you develop a good seat and nice relaxed legs.

You have a good positive attitude!

[noodle]

more ramblings sorry.

Thanks peeps, I really wasnt scared! HONEST.
I am more concerned that I cant do it right! I can do it at the RS no problem but now on a 'normal horse' I cant quite find a balance inbetween the 2.
I can walk him, I can canter him, but I cant trot him LOL, how silly is that.
I cant even get him into a trot, I go straight to canter.
I walk him, then VERY gently ask for trot but because I dont rise and he also takes that little move foward{dont forget he is a big boy] I then sit and my reaction to the slight jolt foward is to grip, and heypresto we go straight to canter grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:mad:
At the RS I walk ask for trot, sit a couple beats to find the rhythum and correct leg then rise into rising trot.
How frustrating when you know what you are doing wrong but cant engage it.
I am going to have to get a different pair of stirups though because the ones on his saddle are too small for my hefty size 8's, which I think is also adding to my problems, any recommendations please.

Ok who wants a pic of him?

[curlycal]

Of course we want piccies :)

Have you thought about getting a few lessons on him, so you can get an experienced eye to help you out?

Cal x

[noodle]

Thanks curly, I am actually getting lessons so to speak from his owner, and WOW she is very good, so calming and lets me take my time.
When she rides him she looks so still and quiet on him and everything is very smooth, always talking through every part of what and why she is doing.

Ok pics.
Now I was on my own tacking up ect so couldnt get any pics of me riding him, I quickly snatched a couple of him when I had finished, mainly cos my 8yr old daughter wanted to see a pic.
I quickly groomed him before we rode as he resembled a mud monster but only where his tack sat{time, time, never enough time},So please note he has sweat marks ect and the remains of the mud which was taken off after the pics were taken.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/noodledoodle1974/muddymax.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a228/noodledoodle1974/max1.jpg

[cwb]

He's lovely!

Try asking for trot and immediately rising to it - you can sort out the trot diagonal once you are trotting.

[noodle]

Trust me when I say its not that easy! LOL
I am trying to rise as I ask for trot{as told to} but after lots of lessons being told not to rise before you trot, its hard LOL.
But I am going to get through this, he is such a lovely kind horse without a SINGLE bad bone in his body, so I know its just me having to learn how to ride again x

[noodle]

I managed to trot on wednesday after about half hour, and was able to change diagonal once settled and in a rhythum, but I rekon today i was thinking too much and after my fall, I was taking my time too much and planning things rather than relaxing and giving it a go.
Sorry I am still very excited, and guess what, the few aches from my lowerback have now gone.:)

[cwb]

Great - I am sure you'll get the hang of it.

I am planning to go and see a horse tomorrow - his name is Bear and he is a 16.1, 12yr gelding

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/PhotoAds/HM/Large/HM802H42F_3.jpg

[Belle Rider]

[QUOTE=cwb;1594619]Great - I am sure you'll get the hang of it.

I am planning to go and see a horse tomorrow - his name is Bear and he is a 16.1, 12yr gelding
QUOTE]

How'd it go cwb? Are you looking to buy the horse or loan/share? He looks lovely! :)

[cwb]

I am looking to buy a horse - but it is SO easy to get carried away and buy the first one you see!

I have a good friend who is an expert horsewoman who is helping me to find the right horse - she "approved" this one as a possible and he is lovely and has big paces - perhaps just a bit too forward going for me!

I am under strict orders to try at least 10 horses before making a decision!

[Belle Rider]

Good for you, sounds very exciting. Hope you find the right one for you. :)
What do you plan to do with your horse - dressage, jumping or just happy hacker?;)

[cwb]

I plan to do hacking, dressage and endurance - I am not sure about SJ or XC as I haven't learnt to jump yet!